Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRASG2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRASG2’ which is characterized by the combination of compact growth habit with dark green foliage born on an unbranched dark green stem, relatively broad and lightly spiraled foliage with coarsely undulate margins, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dracaena fragrans.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Dracaena disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘PVDRASG2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘PVDRASG2’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of Dracaenafragrans ‘Steudneri’ (not patented), which was discovered at acommercial greenhouse in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2016. The mutation wasinitially noted for its large, dark green foliage. Said mutation wasisolated for further evaluation to confirm the uniformity and stabilityof the unique characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of thestability and uniformity of the characteristics, the new plant wasselected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘PVDRASG2’ is accomplishedby way of rooting stem cuttings. Propagation was first performed in 2017at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in San Jose, Costa Rica. Throughtwo subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar haveproven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PVDRASG2’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘PVDRASG2’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘PVDRASG2’ as a new and distinct Dracaena fragrans cultivar:

-   -   1. Dracaena ‘PVDRASG2’ exhibits a compact growth habit with dark        green foliage born on an unbranched dark green stem; and    -   2. Dracaena ‘PVDRASG2’ exhibits relatively broad, lightly        spiraled foliage with coarsely undulate margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘PVDRASG2’ grown in San Jose, Costa Rica. This plant, grown in a 17 cmnursery container, is approximately 26 weeks old from a rooted youngplant; and

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘PVDRASG2’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical lower foliage of‘PVDRASG2’, shown from an alternate perspective.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in May of 2019,describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 26 week-old‘PVDRASG2’ plants grown in 17 cm nursery pots in San Jose, Costa Rica.Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocolsfor Dracaena sp. which consisted of growing under shade cloth,irrigating at regular intervals with ebb and flow flood benches, andfertigation. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PVDRASG2’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘PVDRASG2’ and comparisons with the parentplant and most similar commercial Dracaena cultivar known to theinventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen perennial with foliage born            on a solitary unbranched stem.        -   Plant profile.—Broad oblong to oblong.        -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—82.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Average of 75.3 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Highly vigorous.        -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by            stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 weeks are required            to initiate roots at 25 degrees Celsius.        -   Time to produce a marketable 15 cm potted            plant.—Approximately 26 weeks. Pinching will increase            lateral branching.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of            Dracaena fragrans have been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10            through 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain and wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense            rooting.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N170A.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching characteristics.—Not freely branched in nature;            develops lateral branches only when manipulated by man by            way of pruning. Naturally produces one main stem arising            from the plant's base.        -   Attitude.—Near vertical.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Length.—53.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 1.8 cm.        -   Internode length.—Average 0.9 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Glabrous; smooth.        -   Stem luster.—Matte.        -   Color, developing stems.—Yellow-Green, nearest to in between            RHS 145C and 145D.        -   Color, mature stems.—Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 145C.        -   Color at the internodes.—Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 146C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Spiraled.        -   Attachment.—Sheathed.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attitude.—Foliage near the apex is upright to outward and            becomes progressively more relaxed towards the base.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—40.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 40.7 cm long and 7.7 cm wide, on            average. Shape — Lorate. Aspect — Very lightly spiraled,            with the distalmost portion on the lamina curling downward            at an average angle of minus −70 degrees to the rest of the            lamina. Apex — Narrowly acute with a short, soft but pointed            tip. Base — Sheathed. Sheath — Length — 2.8 cm. Width —            1.9 cm. Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 196C. Color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS            NN137A. Margin — Entire; coarsely undulate. Texture and            luster of adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous and moderately            glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface — Smooth,            glabrous and matte. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A. Juvenile foliage,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and            yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS            138A and 147B. Venation — Pattern — Parallel. Color, adaxial            surface — The main vein nearest green, nearest to RHS 143A.            All other veins are indistinguishable from the surrounding            foliage: nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS            NN137A and 147A. Color, abaxial surface — The main vein is            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 1478. All other veins are            indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage: nearest to            in between green and yellow-green, RHS 138A and 147B.-   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL VARIETY

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PVDRASG2’ may be distinguished from itsparent, Dracaena fragrans ‘Steudneri’ plant (not patented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘PVDRASG2’ ‘Steudneri’ Growth habit. Lesscompact. More compact. Foliage attitude. Foliage is generally Foliage isgenerally more upright. more relaxed. Foliage aspect. Less spiraled(i.e. More spiralled. axially twisted) Foliage margins. More undulate.Less undulate.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PVDRASG2’ may be distinguished from theclosest known commercial comparator, Dracaena fragrans ‘Golden Coast’(not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘PVDRASG2’ ‘Golden Coast’ Foliage attitude.Foliage is Foliage is generally more generally upright. more relaxed.Foliage margins. Undulate. No undulation. General coloration Dark green;no Green foliage with broad, light of the foliage. variegation. green tolight yellow axial striations towards the margins; narrowly marginedyellow.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaenafragrans plant named ‘PVDRASG2’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.